Ex-boss defends ACC rehabilitation policy

Departing ACC boss Ralph Stewart has mounted a rare public defence of the corporation as it faces more fire over a "sick culture".

Mr Stewart yesterday insisted ACC's purpose was "a noble" one and rejected suggestions staff were given incentives to kick people off the corporation's books before they were ready.

"The quality and care provided to clients comes first ... and the result of that quality of care and attention should and must be rehabilitation or the return of someone who's been injured back to their normal lives. That's what ACC is about."

In an at times tetchy interview on Radio New Zealand, Mr Stewart refused to say why he quit his job last week, just days after a boardroom purge by ACC Minister Judith Collins.

He said the reasons for leaving were "multiple" and personal.

But he insisted there was no dispute with Ms Collins over her demands for a "culture change" at ACC.

The minister wanted the right balance struck between rehabilitation and financial management and ACC wanted that too.

The number of long-term claimants has dropped under Mr Stewart – he confirmed yesterday there were just 10,400 long-term claimants on the books, 1000 fewer than even a few years ago.

But after revelations that ACC case managers get paid more to reduce the number of long-term claimants, Opposition MPs have accused ACC of booting people off weekly compensation solely to improve its bottom line.

Mr Stewart rejected that and insisted people were only moved off the books once their rehabilitation was complete.